Microvascular Coronary Dysfunction-an Overview

We will review the available data on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of microvascular coronary dysfunction (MCD).

The study of MCD was pioneered by the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) cohort. New techniques in the diagnosis of this condition, using invasive and noninvasive means, are helping to increase awareness of this condition as well as ways in which to treat it. Microvascular coronary disease without epicardial involvement has become an increasingly recognized cause of cardiac chest pain, particularly in women. Dysfunction of the microvasculature related to endothelium-dependent and endothelial-independent factors likely results in symptoms and/or evidence of ischemia. Although there is a growing body of research, there is still much about MCD that we do not understand.